Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, on Thursday, sought continued French support to create a safe and secure environment—inside Rakhine State of Myanmar—conducive to the Rohingyas’ dignified return.
A delegation of France-Southeast Asia Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group, headed by French Senator and the group's President Jacky Deromedi, met the foreign minister at his office and discussed the issue.
The French delegation praised the significant support that was extended by Bangladesh to the Rohingya people. They said they would continue to support the cause.
The foreign minister praised the existing, excellent, mutual understanding between Bangladesh and France on important issues like climate change and peacekeeping.
He also urged French businesses to invest in Bangladesh—in the energy, infrastructure, and other sectors— and to take advantage of the country's demographic dividend and attractive packages that are on offer in 100 Special Economic Zones (SEZ).
The French delegation also praised Bangladesh's impressive development and expressed its interest in organizing a business forum within the French parliament—engaging the French business community—where Bangladesh could showcase its massive economic and business opportunities.
The other members of the delegation are Jerome Durian, president of the Bangladesh sub-group, Simon Sutour, senator of Gard Region and Anne Laure Saint-Dizier, executive and secretary of the French Senate House.
The Group covers six Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries: Bangladesh, Myanmar, Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Welcoming the delegation Foreign Minister Momen thanked them for visiting Bangladesh.
Referring to French support during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, he fondly recalled the important contribution made by renowned French intellectual and politician Andre Malraux during and after the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
He also praised France and her people for being the beacon of democracy for freedom-loving people across the world.
Previously, on Wednesday, the delegation met Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, lawmaker and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The delegation also visited a garment factory on the outskirts of the capital.
